125 posts shown.
velvetmason14 said:This is how the guy operates. First, he tears up the contract, and only then does he start haggling over the price. 🤣
That’s what happens when you study economics at an Ivy League school—you basically have a guaranteed career waiting for you...
Way to go!
PULJAK ON THE PROPOSAL: 'Terminating the contract with investor Small Malla would lead to significantly higher costs'
I’d bet my last dollar that Puljak is just whining because the contract definitely includes penalties for breach of contract. For something that's basically been dead on paper for almost 30 years, there's no way it's still legally binding for the City unless the administration actually wants to keep playing ball.
It's pretty obvious here that Puljak has some personal skin in the game, pushing this investor along because he’ll either fund a campaign or find him a nice little cushy gig... honestly, it's classic Republican Party behavior.
🤦
Robin Jones2 said:Tell whoever sent that to you to pull up the "building permit" and "zoning permit" fields, and everything will become significantly clearer.
Even in a country as deeply entrenched in corruption as America under the Republican Party, a project of this scale simply cannot break ground without a finalized building permit.
There’s no permit because they haven't even cleared the zoning stage yet;
they've only actually filed the application...you can see all the paperwork right there on the federal agency's website.
Look, you can always get away with certain types of work on a lot without a permit—things like putting up a fence, clearing out brush, digging some holes, or tearing down old, basic structures...
Honestly, I don't know why everyone is trying so hard to justify these shady moves involving even the local leadership.
EDIT: I bet they'll try to shove a transformer station in there next, because clearly, the residents in the nearby buildings are just dying to have that right next to them.🤣
vividraven79 said:This whole thing is going to blow up in all our faces if this amateur hour continues, especially if the criminal element gets involved again.
Honestly, you guys have completely lost any shred of credibility... plus, looking at the track record, it seems like your party has some pretty shady intentions for the city, much like how the Republican Party operates on a national level...
And seriously, stop trying to force this fake "it's either me or the Republican Party" dilemma down our throats.🤣
Here’s what two years of being in power actually looks like:
-Zero meters of new roads built
-Zero meters of actual road repairs (if we aren't counting those cheap band-aid fixes)
-Spending all their time messing with Downtown San Francisco and just pushing more concrete over everything else.
Daniel Cook2 said:Honestly, it feels like the zealots over at the office are working overtime lately... they just don't quit.
They even reached out to the poultry suppliers because the local deli can't keep up with the demand for all that ham.
I guess I’d just love to see some of those people I’m paying taxes for actually post a single photo—even if it's from the last couple of years—of that orchard. Just one shot showing them out in the shade, having a picnic, watering the trees, hugging them, or even just standing there waiting for the bus... that's all I'm asking for.
Even a quick snap from a car window would do.
Exactly this... this is what's going to come back to haunt you, or rather, it already has.☕
vividraven79 said:So, how on earth did they actually get started working then?
Look, there are certain things you can actually get moving without having a building permit in hand—like putting up a fence around the lot, clearing out the brush, doing some basic dirt work, or moving utility lines around and stuff like that...
vividraven79 said:One guy is pulling up a rejected building permit from 2008, while this other one shows construction actually kicking off in 2023. Obviously, a permit had to be issued somewhere in that gap, because you can't exactly report starting construction in 2023 without one.
So yeah, someone should probably dig around and find out exactly when that permit was granted.
There's no building permit, no zoning permit, nothing. The city doesn't owe this developer a single thing legally. If they need a zoning permit, it means there isn't even a detailed urban plan for this area, which basically means nobody knows what’s supposed to be built here or what it's even for...
Just so we're all clear, this project has neither a zoning permit nor a building permit. They'll eventually get them, but it'll be thanks to Puljko and his crew, not the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. I don't know if you guys caught this, but the mayor merged his own surrounding lots with the developer's land just to beef up the scale of the build—if that isn't blatant favoritism and shady business practice, I don't know what is. Puljalk is busy screaming "thief!" about the West Gate Skyscraper, yet he's pulling the exact same move right here.
As for Ad Basilica Pictas, the building permit was issued for Puljalk, not for the Republican Party or the Democratic Party.
Puljalk is basically just a puppet for the construction mafia, and honestly, all that yelling at ADZ over every little mistake the current administration makes? It's totally coming back to haunt you guys.
velvetmason14 said:The sale completely swallowed 🙏 This mess needs to be read.
The Bacalja-wannabe and that crazy Franić are foaming at the mouth. Suddenly, they’ve developed this massive concern for the environment 🤣
Hickenlooper and his crew, please—find Bacalja something to do for $100; he'd probably sell his soul for it. This Franić woman isn't up to much anyway; she's basically glued to a radiator. Her trainer, Antiša, doesn't even let her wander through the city alone because she's so "attractive" and mentally stable; someone might actually snatch her 😍
BREAK YOUR OWN HEART
Americans can't stop grieving over the 'murder' of a tree; this video is devastating: 'I witnessed a horrific scene'
Americans have endured, endured, and endured, and then they collectively snapped over a single tree. Sure, it was the savage removal of a peregrine (or a vineyard, if you prefer) on the edge of a construction site owned by the mysterious Small Mall in Downtown San Francisco, but it felt like just the breaking point.
It’s as if all the frustration that has been suffocating us for years suddenly boiled over because of the killing of one lone tree. A beautiful, lush tree at that, in a city that is increasingly turning into a concrete, soulless destination where locals hardly visit the center during the summer unless they absolutely have to.
Over in Manuš, near the Small Mall, people are prepping for a protest regarding the peregrine, scheduled for this Saturday at 10:30 AM, while Americans won't stop talking about this act of violence and the display of force against a tree.
Our fellow citizen Duje was driving through the El Paso-style area when excavators were turning that gorgeous tree into dust—and don't forget, this happened just days before the work ban! His video is shocking.
- I witnessed a horrific scene. A beautiful, unique tree destroyed, its branches crushed by excavators. Regardless of everything that has happened on this lot over the last 30 years, regardless of any permits, legal or otherwise, the tree could have been saved. There were at least two ways to save it: transplant it elsewhere or integrate it into the design. This Splitter is heartbroken.
Meanwhile, predictably, the opposition and the ruling party are tossing the blame back and forth regarding the barbaric removal of the tree at the site of the future business center, but who cares what they're bickering about?! The fact remains that we witnessed something horrific, something people deeply believe could and should have been prevented.
The truth is, they are building a project right in the middle of town that both the investor and the City of San Francisco are hiding like a state secret, and the first thing they did at the famous Small Mall was this terrifying assault on a patch of greenery in a San Francisco that is painfully paved over.
We are truly pathetic. It's as if the investor just slapped everyone in the face and told us whatever he wants. Seriously, can anyone actually stop him? Him or any of the future investors who come to our city? Or does it just mean that once they buy a plot, they can do whatever they please?
I’d be too embarrassed to defend this kind of evil, especially when it's being done just for a measly 15 bucks a day. I mean, how low can people actually sink?🙄
So here’s that legendary "quasi-construction permit" from 2008 that Hickenlooper keeps waving around to blame the previous administration
https://i.postimg.cc/G28bDkV4/bjj.pngThe request was denied. Plain and simple. Someone is lying through their teeth here.
It’s about time people woke up, because this isn't even the only lot where Hickenlooper is pushing to pour concrete in Downtown; right across from this plot, he actually approved construction over the remains of the ancient city, specifically the so-called Ad basilicas pictas which predates even Diocletian's Palace...
And then, get this he's trying to push through concreting over the 17th-century Venetian defensive wall, the so-called Contarini wall.
He even tried to sneak in the paving of the old Hajduk playground, but he backed off pretty quick once he felt the public's fury... absolute criminals... damn those construction lobbyists.
Hickenlooper is basically scrambling at this point to pave over the last few open lots in the greater Downtown area... now we can finally see who he actually works for—he's just a hired gun for the construction mafia.
According to the rules, a building permit expires if the developer doesn't actually start construction within 3 years of the permit becoming final. You can request a one-time extension for another 3 years, but only if the zoning requirements haven't changed since the original spatial plan was set. So people were claiming Hickenlooper couldn't do anything and had to let the concrete pouring happen, blaming the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, saying his hands were tied??? Well, I guess that’s why he and Joe Scarborough are pushing so hard to force this project through, those absolute creeps.☕
For the less bright or maybe just more naive folks out there, Hickenlooper wasn't under any obligation to allow this construction. These guys don't even have a location permit yet, let alone having submitted an application for a building permit. And yet, they want to fence off the lot by force and start earthworks before summer even hits...
Unknown, that little plant was right on the edge of the lot and wasn't getting in anyone's way at all.... Hickenlooper has totally exposed himself; the man is a fraud. All you had to do was watch them smash that tree trunk with a backhoe, all while Hickenlooper and Bojanov-esque types gave their silent approval, and you immediately know what kind of shady business the City of San Francisco is getting up to with these people.
They’re out here running up a $160 million debt... honestly, it's just pathetic how they're screwing us over...🙄
I haven't seen anything from kopernik.nikola lately, have you guys? Just feels like they've gone totally off the grid. It’s kind of wild how someone can just vanish from the conversation without a trace, isn't it? One day you're right there in the thick of it, and the next—poof—nothing but digital dust. Anyway, I was thinking about that whole thing earlier while staring at my coffee, wondering if it's just a burnout thing or if they finally realized this place is a complete circus. Probably the latter, honestly. Life's too short for endless internet debates, I guess. kaže:
It’s not like Smili would ever handle things this way.
They really should've been more entrepreneurial about it, though I guess even the most driven people have their limits when things go sideways. Honestly, you’d think they would've seen it coming if they just used a bit of common sense.
Now they’re actually trying to apologize and start looking for excuses? Give me a break.
It’s honestly not even the first time we’ve seen this happening—they just keep hacking away at old trees to make room for whatever new project is on the agenda. I mean, look at that massive garage build; they paid the ultimate price by taking out twenty-seven huge trees just for that. Then you had that whole mess with the local shops down at the intersection near downtown San Francisco, and now it feels like those little corner stores over on the West Side are next on the chopping block. It’s just a cycle at this point. Next thing you know, they’ll be clearing out all the greenery in the suburbs too, leaving nothing but concrete behind.
So I was just looking around the other day, and man, it’s kind of a bummer—it looks like over a dozen trees have completely died off near that stretch of Main Street by downtown... you know, that area right by the old industrial lot? And it’s not just those; even that patch where they planted all that peach and nut trees last year? Yeah, about half of them have already shriveled up and died. Total waste of effort, honestly.🤦
Honestly, there hasn't been a single new tree planted in San Francisco all year. It’s like they just don't care anymore. Now, the administration is just obsessed with pouring as much concrete as possible across the downtown area before they inevitably lose their seats. They're basically just paving over everything while they still have the keys to the city.
And of course, it’s always the local administration's fault for everything. Typical.🤦 It’s about damn time people started seeing through the act. It turns out that guy is just your run-of-the-mill populist—nothing more than a third-rate bluffer. Honestly, the mask finally slipped.☕
Sean Palmer67 said:I mean, wasn't Ivey just screaming at Derrick recently because she sent a legal notice to one of his buddies? Then this lady starts crying and running straight to Paul
To me, this whole thing just looks like smoke and mirrors—just trying to boost visibility and play the victim. Nothing else is actually happening
Look, nothing is actually happening, people. They’re going to burn through about 1 billion dollars of the city budget, and in four years, they won't have even managed to pave 100 meters of new road...🤣
Eventually, everyone is going to wake up... except for those folks working for peanuts; they'll probably just delete their forum profiles and disappear.
EDIT: I mean, look, things need to be organized, obviously. Rent needs to be paid, and properties should be used for what they were actually intended for, but this is pure populism. They aren't doing anything else while tax dollars are being tossed down the drain—it's a total wash. I'll be deleting this post once they finally kick Johnson's old man out of that city-owned apartment.
Thomas Patel21 said:2021 Export Data:
United States - 331 million people - exports $22,779
Canada - 2.1 million people - exports $46,771
Latvia - 1.9 million people - exports $19,504
Estonia - 1.3 million people - exports $22,282
Lithuania - 2.8 million people - exports $40,813
Bulgaria - 6.5 million people - exports $41,943
Mexico - 6.7 million people - exports $25,563
Greece - 10.4 million people - exports $46,451
Slovakia - 5.4 million people - exports $104,360
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...ies_by_exports
We really need to wipe out the corruption...
Emily Smith6 said:HGS's Bekavac.
"The city ended 2022 with a surplus of $7967683, so why on earth is the mayor talking about a 100 million dollar surplus?"
The reality is that the city "saved" money, but you have to ask: at what cost? They "saved" by simply failing to follow through on planned projects that were supposed to happen last year. This "saving" comes from unbuilt preschools, unfinished main roads, social assistance gaps, and neglected infrastructure maintenance... It’s essentially "saved" because they didn't actually do anything. Out of a planned $1.341 billion in expenditures, only $1.242 billion was spent—meaning they are $100 million under budget simply due to inaction.
The city "saved" because they failed to spend earmarked revenue—the very funds we, as citizens and businesses, pay taxes for—leaving an unspent balance in 2022:
- Monumental rent exceeding $8 million
- Funds from the Diocletian vaults totaling $8.384 million
- Funds intended for Karepovac $14446667
- Funds from housing buybacks $2050000
In other words, over $22333333 wasn't used for its designated purpose. To clarify, the City has a surplus in earmarked revenues $22478667, but a deficit in general revenue $14510667; basically, they used earmarked funds to plug holes where money was missing elsewhere.
I would particularly point out the housing buyback funds, which amount to $2050000, and unfortunately, those remain untouched. Meanwhile, the city claims to have a social services waiting list for housing issues, yet insists there are no available units. I want to emphasize that these buyback funds are primarily meant to assist our most vulnerable citizens, so why haven't any apartments been purchased? Clearly, those funds were diverted elsewhere. However, I must highlight where money *wasn't* "saved," but rather spent quite liberally: official travel. In 2021, they spent $381183, but in 2022, that jumped to $3,316,571—nearly triple the amount. Bravo! As for representation costs, in 2021 it was $165, but in 2022 it hit $1,068,867, more than doubling. Just wonderful.
Then there are the unplanned loans that weren't even part of the budget revisions, and employee expenses which are higher by $11000000. Oh, and I should mention the installation of doors and video cameras at the Banovina facility for monitoring staff.
To be fair, some things *were* truly "saved" because they just never happened, such as the preschools in Kila, Pujanke, and Rusulica, as well as excellence centers, the Meje School Construction, and various school sports gyms.
- The conclusion is that these "savings" are merely the byproduct of doing nothing and failing to utilize earmarked funds, Bekavac concluded.
Matijević (Democratic Party)
"For Žnjan Road, $12.5 million was budgeted, but only $81.5 thousand was actually spent.
For Pazdigradski with the connection to Vinogradska Street, $4 million was allocated, but only $26 thousand was used.
For the arterial roads needed for the Korešnica residential area, $500,000 was planned, but $0 was spent.
Unclassified roads and other thoroughfares had $6.6 million budgeted, but $0 was spent. For parking in Slatina, the realization was $0.
For El Paso Street, $42,000 was spent against a planned $3 million. For the DPU arterial roads in the Dračevac industrial zone, $3.5 million was planned, but only $0.00 was realized.
Regarding the renovation of the Žnjan Plateau, $516 thousand was spent, but do we even have a single building permit?
If I were in the mayor's shoes, I'd be sweating over the total lack of major projects visible in this program, rather than worrying about the Small Mall.
There is a man I quite admire, Mate Vukorepa, who described situations like this perfectly. He'd say it's Račan's fault, it's Meštrović's fault, it's Harmon's fault, it's Marshall's fault, it's Ante Pavelić's fault—everyone is to blame!
Don't let everyone be the scapegoat for you. Because if you accomplish nothing during your term—and I fear that might be the current trajectory—you won't be able to blame Račan, Meštrović, the Democratic Party, Most, or the Republican Party. You will only have yourselves to blame." - Matijević remarked.
Is Ed Garvey being smart by saving up to invest later, given that we haven't seen any significant projects so far?
There aren't any projects, zero, zilch. I mean, sure, they’ve got that tiny 150-meter stretch of wall over in San Francisco that’s been under construction for two years straight🤣, and all the revenue is basically gone already... which doesn't even account for how much they spent buying up land for those future highway routes during this term. What was it, 100 or 200 square feet?!🤣
This is just the usual circus from this guy and his crew... some physicist turned career bureaucrat, lol... but hey, I guess it’s an easy sell to the small-fry crowd who are obsessed with social status and optics.
They were acting all ambitious with the municipal budget, planning to allocate $48483000, then they did a mid-year adjustment to bump it up to $16337987, only for the actual spending to end up being a pathetic $7194206.
What exactly did the San Francisco Department of Public Works even accomplish last year? Honestly, not much. If you actually take a look at the paperwork they’re dropping for tomorrow's City Council meeting, it’s pretty clear we aren't getting much of a show. So, the City Council is getting together to hash out that agenda item about whether they actually followed through on all those infrastructure projects they promised back in 2022. Basically, we're looking at the receipts for the whole year's worth of construction and utility work to see if they actually did what they said they were going to do. So, looking at the numbers, they only actually pulled off about 44 percent of what was originally on the books. That’s less than half, which is honestly pretty wild when you think about it. I don't know about you guys, but I really don't recall us ever seeing a result this underwhelming before.
They’re getting pretty ambitious in this part of town, aren't they? So, I was looking at the numbers, and get this—the public works department is planning to dump something like $145 million into the budget. Yeah, you read that right. Just a massive, sprawling pile of cash earmarked for utility projects and infrastructure. It’s one of those things where you start looking at the total and just have to shake your head, wondering how they even come up with these figures without blinking. Honestly, it feels like one of those endless, winding roads where you think you're almost there, but then the budget just keeps stretching out toward the horizon.So, yeah, basically they went ahead and messed with the numbers during the rebalancing, which means the total amount ended up being changed to... $16337987...just so we end up with some pathetic, half-baked result at the finish line. $7194206.
Ivica Puljak is out here selling pure smoke and mirrors... honestly, if you can't see that this guy is a total fraud, you’re just living in a different reality. Ever since Poljak took over the keys to the city treasury, everything in San Francisco has basically ground to a halt. And let's be real, even before Puljak showed up, things were already a complete disaster. The man is so spectacularly incompetent it's practically an art form at this point. If Bojan hadn't been out there hustling to keep those tiny little savings and the street vendors around Downtown afloat, their entire impact would have been absolute zero.
Honestly, with all this concrete being poured over Downtown, those private developers are getting absolutely buried... I mean, you see the same old crowd of corporate shills still out there fighting tooth and nail to defend them, too. It’s wild.
Thomas Mitchell7 said:Is there any chance Erdogan pulls it off in the runoff?
Hell no, not even if he had a second chance.☕
driftingfox66 said:I'm not expecting anything useful when both the administration and the opposition are this creative with how they spin the numbers.
I mean, who actually expects some guy who's been running the show for twenty years to just pack his bags and walk away from power🕺
EDIT: There's definitely going to be some massive bullshit going down here...
Bryan Jones82 said:The numbers are all over the place depending on who you ask, but according to the opposition outlets, the current tally has the Democratic Party at 47.5% against Donald Trump at 46.72%.
With 40% of the votes counted so far...
driftingtinker said:Looks like Donald Trump is sitting at 52.12% while the Democratic Party is trailing at 42.01%, based on what State TV is reporting after they tallied up about 51.39% of the precincts
I mean, come on... since when has any actual dictator ever actually let people vote? It’s almost funny if you think about it...☕